Betwixt & Between

Part 10

They'd arrived. The fan fare was still in full swing even days later. News broadcasts were fraught with Voyager tidbits of every kind. The crew manifest had been released officially and the reporters were busy pulling up all available information on the crew but mostly on the Captain and the senior staff. Starfleet had yet to release any details as they were still undergoing debriefings. It had leaked though, that the chief helmsman had some sort of incident with an alien species very recently and there was wild speculation from all.

Thankfully today was the last day of debriefings. The commanding officers were left for last and after hours of gruelling interviews and questions they were free to go. Tom had been informed that his sentence had been shortened and commuted to time served on Voyager so he was free. He met the news with a stoic face and a slight shrug. The panel of officers had looked at each other and then dismissed him.

That had been hours ago. Currently Tom and Chakotay waited in a small meeting room for Admiral Paris and his sister's to appear. They had met Chakotay's family earlier that day when the crew as a whole had triumphantly stepped out of quarantine into the public eye and into the loving embraces of many loved ones. Tom had only been greeted by nosy reporters who'd managed to get in but Chakotay had seen his mother and one of his brothers. He'd been overjoyed at seeing them both alive and well and they had spoken animatedly for many minutes giving into the urge to hug every so often. Eventually remembering his lover Chakotay introduced a nervous Tom to the assembled members of his family. Tom couldn't recall exactly what was said, his nerves getting the better or him, but it had gone well. Chakotay's older brother had given him the once over and then glanced at Chakotay before pulling Tom into a hug. His brother was a handsome man too. Strong build, similar features, tanned skin and the sweeping tattoo over the left brow –no dimples though. Chakotay's mother was an aged woman but her own beauty was visible in the lined faced, bright smile and sharp eyes. They seemed to accept him and Tom was more than a little relieved.

Now it was Chakotay's turn to meet the family. Tom didn't seem nearly as nervous as he was when he met Nayib and Chakotay's mother. As they waited they spoke softly to each other, Tom leaning on the table and Chakotay in front of him. The door at the other end of the room opened and three people stepped in. Tom had his back to the door but he saw the smile on Chakotay's face fade. Taking a deep breath Tom turned and faced his family.

They looked each other over. Tom couldn't help thinking that they looked old. His father had lost more hair and it was now completely white. There were more lines around his face and they didn't look like they were from smiles. His sister's were still 'not ugly' (the best compliment a brother could give to a sister) but they too had more lines. They were several years older than he was but he could not mistake the sparkle their eyes had always held –although currently their eyes were wide with surprise.

"Tom?" Kathleen the younger of his two sisters asked?

"Who else would I be?" The response was so Tom that they knew it had to be him.

"You look different," this from Moira.

Thought of Osa sprang to his mind. The hurt had faded since his death but it was still strong. A brief smile was all he could manage. "I'll tell you about it later." He slowly drew his eyes to his father, the man he'd managed to disappoint at every turn. He didn't know what to say. "…Admiral."

A sad smile twisted the old face and he stepped forward. He pulled his son into a hug. The appropriate words had vanished from his mind the moment he'd stepped through the doors. All he wanted to do was get back what he'd finally realized he'd lost. Tom pulled away a slight smile on his face. He cleared his throat suddenly feeling choked and turned to Chakotay. "This is Chakotay, my fiancé." Admiral Paris shook his hand while extending his congratulations to both of them. Chakotay had only proposed last night during their quiet evening together. Well technically Tom proposed since Chakotay had been too nervous to get the words to come out in the correct order so Tom had proposed to Chakotay instead.

Chakotay shook the older Paris's hand and tried to gauge what the man was really feeling but poker face was impenetrable. He accepted the chaste hugs Tom's sisters gave him and conversation was polite but strained for a few more minutes. Eventually they parted way.

Tom was silent most of the way back to their housing unit. "They were nice," Chaktoay said. Tom smirked.

"No, your family was nice, mine was…formal. It's always been that way." There was a wistful note in his voice but he recognized that things weren't going to change that much. Maybe he and his father would be able to get along but he wasn't sure. Tom had changed over the years as had his father but only time would tell if it was enough.

Chakotay wrapped an arm around Tom's waist and leaned in to kiss his neck. It brought a smile to the blonde man's face just as it was intended to. "Don't worry about it. We've got all the time in the world to make things right. There's no rush."

"I guess." They walked for while more thinking about home until Chakotay interrupted.

"My mom and brother liked you." Tom gave a non-committal 'hmm'. "And I think I can win over your sisters with my charm." Tom laughed outright. "What? I won you over didn't I?"

Tom continued to smile. "I guess."

"Exactly!" Tom shook his head ruefully. "So when do you want to head to Dorvan and meet everyone else?"

"Everyone else?" Tom stopped walking as his nerves returned with a vengeance.

"Yeah. My other brother, my two sisters, and wives or husbands, nieces, nephews…"

Tom was more than a little overwhelmed. "Uh…can't your mom and Nayib just pass along to them what a great guy I am?" Tom asked, half-joking.

Chakotay gave his nervous fiancé a quick hug and made a suggestion. "How about we order in, and we can discuss what to do next?" They still had a lot to discuss. Where to live? When and where to marry? Whether to stay in Starfleet or not? Yes, plenty to discuss but they'd made it. They weren't in a hurry anymore.

Generations later…

He'd been around for a while now. They didn't call him child anymore (at least not to his face). He was a more experienced Alorem contributing to his adoptive people and family. Juma and Nie had been like an aunt and uncle to him since he had arrived so long ago. Though he'd been an adult human he was a very young Alorem and needed to be guided and taught just as though he was an infant and occasionally even now he needed their guidance.

It had been a long time since he'd gone to Earth, Dorvan or anywhere in Federation Space which had expanded greatly over the years. He and Chakotay had adopted children, orphans of the war. They had wanted a child that biologically was theirs too but the Alorem council forbade it. Their fears were grounded. They had worried, when Osa had made Tom an Alorem, that the power he received would corrupt him somehow. So far that had not happened but it would be a risk to create another hybrid.

So they'd adopted and if there was any difference between loving an adopted a child and one that carried their genetic material, they'd never felt it. Three great children had grown up under their care and eventually started their own families. Chakotay and Tom had lived well on Dorvan with each other but it had ended far too soon.

As time went on Chakotay, just like all humans, had aged. Tom however had not (it was always tricky trying to explain it to other people). They'd received some looks in the latter years. Others could not understand what such an elderly man was doing with such an young one. Tom hadn't cared, neither had Chakotay.

Eventually though, Chakotay's body, weak with age, failed. He'd died peacefully in his sleep his husband next to him. Tom had felt it coming and had stayed awake that night not wanting to miss the last moments. He'd talked softly to his love telling him everything in his heart until the man he would continue to love breathing stopped. He'd cried for seemingly endless hours until he raised himself to the comm-unit and informed his children. The youngest who lived on Dorvan as well, was the first to arrive only minutes after being told. She found her Daddy sitting on the floor next to where her Papa lay in the bed, tear stains on a pale face.

The other children and family members came to Dorvan. The funeral ceremony was held and eventually they parted again. Tom stayed around Dorvan for many years after his husband's death. He never took another lover, though he'd received offers. There was only one person he wanted and he was gone.

The day finally came when Tom knew he had to go. He went to see each of his children and their grandchildren. He said goodbye although he could tell from the confusion in their eyes they didn't understand where he was going. He didn't explain. His children were getting more lines around their eyes and were slowing down. It would not be long before their funerals were being held and he knew he could not handle that. He said goodbye to each and then left Dorvan, left the quadrant, left this space. Since then he had visited his grand- and great-grandchildren on a few occasions but he didn't approach them or anyone else. He viewed them from afar, their happiness to bring him joy.

He missed them; his children, his grandchildren, his friends, his husband. Some days he wished he wasn't Alorem so that he could be with them sooner. Such it was one day when a there was a disturbance in Alorem space. The area was off limits until the anomaly vanished. They'd experienced these before and so long as no one went to close they were safe.

Tom had to be there. Someone was calling to him. He could not disobey. He went straight towards the anomaly. The barricades and security could not stop him and the others watched in horror as he vanished.

"I've met him; your other father." The tone was happy and teasing. "I thanked him for saving you, for giving me another chance…"

"…You've made me so proud…and given me more than my life was ever destined for…my child."

"I'm waiting for you. We all are. We can wait an eternity….no rush, okay?" That smile, that touch. He'd longed for it so badly and now…

Suddenly he was back in Alorem space. The anomaly was closing. He was dazed and disoriented.

He'd seen them, felt them -his family. All who had passed. Chakotay. He'd been with him, felt the sensation of soft lips on his and then a sudden force against his chest. That jerk pushed him! Pushed him right back through the portal and into Alorem space.

He stared silently. The portal was closed. He was cut off from them.

Other beings gathered around him, worried and awed that he had returned. They expressed how glad they were that he was home. Tom didn't correct them.

A moment before, in those arms, yes he'd been home. Now, he was just back. Two halves of a whole that today weren't fitting together as well as they used to. Tomorrow would be better and sometime far down the line he'd be with them again. It was a long time away but…no rush.

End Betwixt & Between

Thanks for reading!

Sagga Bott…